Unilever Set to Report Q1 Sales as Investors Eye Turnaround Progress
FMCG giant Unilever is slated to release its first-quarter trading update this Thursday (25 April), marking a crucial checkpoint for CEO Hein Schumacher’s turnaround strategy. With expectations of modest growth in the consumer goods segment, stakeholders will be watching closely for signs of recovery and operational improvement.
Analysts forecast a 4.1% increase in turnover, reaching €15.2 billion, driven primarily by estimated underlying sales growth of 3.5%. Although top-line figures may show gains, attention will center on volume improvements—a long-time area of concern for the company amid stagnant growth in previous quarters.
Investors will be particularly interested in whether Schumacher’s upcoming strategy presentation next month will be foreshadowed in this trading update. His earlier acknowledgment that Unilever is failing to “fully leverage its scale and capabilities” has raised expectations for a bold reshaping of the product portfolio and brand strategy.
The personal care and hygiene categories will be closely monitored, particularly in Europe and North America, where consumer behavior has shifted toward value and private label offerings in response to inflation. Unilever’s ability to balance pricing actions with volume recovery will also remain a key metric.
Elsewhere in the market this week, other notable updates include Tesla’s quarterly earnings on Tuesday and Microsoft and Alphabet reports expected Wednesday—though these tech updates are less directly impactful to FMCG.
On the macroeconomic front, Friday will see the release of the first post-tariff flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for April from the UK and Eurozone. For FMCG brands operating in these markets, the PMI data could signal consumer demand trends and supply chain pressures following newly imposed tariffs between the UK and EU. The Bank of England’s latest surveys also highlight subdued business optimism and sticky inflation—factors likely to influence strategic planning for consumer goods firms in the months ahead.
Unilever’s performance this quarter will serve as a bellwether not only for the effectiveness of its revitalization efforts but also for broader sentiment in the branded goods sector amid shifting consumer priorities and turbulent economic conditions.